The day started early, just after 3am, leaving just as the red glow in the sky emerged. We travelled the short distance to pick up our eldest son who was to be our taxi driver to the airport.
As we headed out once again lucky enough to see a young fox crossing the road ahead of us.
An easy trip across the Snake Pass to Manchester to find ourselves the first at the check in desk. This opened at 5am with another 30 mins to get through security.
Found a quite area to sit after purchasing a meal deal from Boots for on the flight. Flight left slightly early and after a good flight but cramped conditions and arrived in Rhodes 8 mins early. There was a slight confusiion with the Olympic rep on the transfer coach but nothing to worry about and after a slight delay we were on our way to the ferry.
We were expecting to be dropped at the taverna at the top of the port as in previous years but the driver insisted on taking us down to the new cafe in the port area. Having enjoyed previous visits to the taverna we made the walk back up with our cases and once again were not disappointed with the food. One very large greek salad, tsaziki, fried potatoes and toasted bread, 2 large Mythos one small Amstel all for 26 euro.
At around 5pm walked back down to the port to find the very big ferry already in dock. Collected tickets on seated on the ferry within a few minutes.
The ferry took approx 1 hour, not as impressive arriving in the new quay as it was docking at the clock tower. As sometimes is the case, I had a chaotic arrival on a greek island - I decided to try and video the arrival at the new dock whilst Liz went down to collect luggage and prepare to disembark. After taking as much video footage as i could i headed down the stairs on the ferry and noticed a weathered greek man and his wife just entering a lift. Thinking he knew what he was doing I joined them in the lift, as the doors closed he began to press every button and started to panic, he abviously thought the ferry was going to leave within him getting his car off. The lift kept stopping at differnt floors where he got more and more agitated as it was not the correct level. having told him to calm down I decided that I would make my own way down to find the exit. Having arrived at the luggage hold there was no sign of Liz or the cases and a nice young member of staff politely asked was I missing something, for which I replied yes my wife and cases. She smiled as I left the ferry to try and find were both were.
Quick trip up the hill in the minibus to be met by Manilos at the corner and led to our usual room. Quick change and down the lanes with the usual great welcome from Yannis and also Collette. Straight into Georgios were we ordered shrimp pasties, Beef in mataxa and mushrooms and fried potatoes, litre of house white which was very nice.
Followed by a night cap at Yannis Rainbow Bar where we met up with Jo and had one or two or even 3 ouzo nightcaps. A very tired walk up to Sevastis with no time to look at the stars.
So good to be back on this magical island.
